The Change: Episode one (25 page)

Once we had things sorted out, we moved
Baker from the den to the medical cart and towed his chained body
behind us like it was only a corpse to be turned in. Under the
cover of a heavy fog, and the noise of the rushing water from the
open watershed provided us cover as our small group slipped out of
the area.

This was Frogtown, where the Network had
declared Martial Law in response to the riots over the height
restriction for a breeding pass. The Network wanted only perfect
specimens to reproduce, and the short, squat females of the Bama
Swamps weren’t happy about it in the least. The Network Hub near
here, that oversaw the only train to the West Coast outpost, had
been in their control for a few days last year. The Network still
hadn’t let up even though the murk-dwelling females were mostly
conquered now. The Hounds had taken care of that.

As if my thought had conjured them, I saw
three smaller sets of ears raise from an under the nearby stacks of
cut hay. Sure there were more now behind, I made sure my voice only
carried through our group and not to the Hounds set to ambush us.
“Males in the cart on my order.”

Tension crackled as they understood we had
trouble, and then a slobbering Hound bounded from the trees to my
right and I was reacting.

D

“
Now!”

I scrambled into the cart with her father,
Baker making room for us. It was attached to Angelica’s Mopar and
she sped up, drawing her gun.

Candice opened fire, showing me where the
threat was, and I cringed back in horror at the Hound running along
side the cart.

“
Down!”

I ducked as she fired, blowing the head off
the slobbering animal, but a second Network dog lunged overtop its
fallen pack mate, and latched onto my arm.

I jerked backward, pulling the Hound off
too, and fell from the cart in an ugly sprawl. My body ached as I
scrambled to my feet. The Hound’s face stopped inches from mine as
we both recovered from the impact.

I was aware of Candice trying to get a clear
shot, but at that moment, staring into the creature’s vivid red
eyes, I could feel its pain. Unlike the Changelings, though, I
sensed these animals needed comfort and attention, more than sexual
relief. I extended a hand that didn’t shake.

The Hound didn’t move and I slid my fingers
through its rough fur without flinching. So soft. I murmured the
same and felt the animal relax under my attention.

“
They used to obey
commands…”

I took Candice’s meaning. “Go on now. And
take your friends with you, please.”

The Fire Hound responded in a way none of us
were braced for. Its huge tongue slid over my jaw in affection, and
it gave a gentle, playful growl. Then it left, and the other huge
dogs followed with curious sniffs of their merciful leader.

I looked up to see Candice and her family
sharing surprised looks. I could tell that they thought I should be
dead right now, and I let myself open up a bit to them. “It’s one
of the ways I’m different. The Network doesn’t know.”

C

Still stunned by what we had witnessed, as
we cleared the city limits, Angelica and I took the road that would
lead us to the nearby train. My parents turned for the wild path
that would take them north so they could pick up the other
fugitives and appease the Network’s anger against us for failing to
turn in the quiet Convict currently bumping along behind
Angelica.

Daniel was back behind me on the Mopar, his
grip a warm comfort and a reminder that once again, I had almost
lost him. My choice to help the rebels or not, would be influenced
by his weaknesses… and his strengths.

We arrived at the Network hub short minutes
later. The train was ready to go when we rode up to the cargo car,
with no line to board. A short haggle with the tall redhead minding
the wide bays got us all three back rooms of a fancy car. People
were staying clear of this area, taking other means of
transportation, and the Network guards were lax from boredom.

Not
wise
, I thought. This area was just as wild
as the few people who dared to venture through it. Towering trees
and winding paths branched off in every direction and it took a
full crew to keep the tracks clear of debris. The reason we’d
chosen to take the train was lurking within that dense forest. The
Pythons in the southern areas had taken over even the crocodile
populations. The effects of the War were uncountable,
immeasurable.

The Hub was at the center of three states:
Tennessee, where we had captured Baker. Alabama, where Baker and I
had denned. And Georgia, where we were now headed. It should have
been a busy place, but never had been, as far as I could remember.
It was almost as if the Network didn’t want to encourage people to
head into any of the areas near the Borderlands…

Once we had Baker secured
in the storage car and boarded, the train departed immediately.
Later, we could bring him up to our rooms. When the Pruetts rode
the rail, they did it in style. It was no coincidence I’d had
Angelica book us an extra seat in case he was caught. Baker would
appear to have been cleared, given a ticket, and subsequently
ignored except as a male wandering on his own. When he mentioned
who he was with, he would be escorted back to us and then forgotten
about.
We often had unregistered males in
our company, and were known for enjoying the train’s rentable men.
The guards weren’t aware that rather than using their services, we
were slipping them food and medicine during our hour.

There was a lot the Network didn’t know
about the Pruetts. We tried hard to keep it that way, but I had a
feeling that would change soon. My rage wouldn’t allow me to keep
playing these games by their rules for much longer.

Chapter Seventeen

D

I loved the train as soon
as I saw it, and remembered not to say so at the last second.
Although I saw only Network women around, I could feel their eyes
on me. It was clear they hadn’t seen a male in a while, and I was
careful to avoid their leering eyes.
Unlike
my crate ride to Candy’s home, I thought I might enjoy this
trip.

Long, black, and sleek, the train had silver
lining and a feeling of total luxury that was enhanced by the sight
of deep red chandeliers in the windows. It rumbled softly, hardly
as loud as I’d expected from such a massive machine, and I stepped
closer when Candice did, eager to begin this newest leg of our
adventure.

I was no longer worried for my safety on the
trip - my owner was quite adept at reclaiming her property, and
they all knew it. She’d been recognized by at least three of the
black-and-silver clad females. I could tell by the way those three
watched her and not me.

The cars were lined in silver and black,
with red carpet and red velvet draperies to match those fragile
light fixtures. The couches were plush, the kind that encouraged a
sweet night’s sleep, and they came with cute pillows in all three
of the themed shades. After all the paleness and isolated
wilderness, it was a little overwhelming.

Our room was the length of a full car, and
the silky looking bed took up half of it. I swallowed the lump in
my throat and put away the things I thought Candice would want. She
was standing watch in the doorway when I slid the cuffs into the
top drawer, and I could feel her eyes burning holes into my
back.

When I finished with my chore, I looked
toward the small washroom and then to her for permission. She
stared back without answering, and I went to do as I wanted,
understanding what she hadn’t said. My choices, my freedoms, would
be as many as she could give me.

The washroom was small, but well-stocked,
and I took advantage by using many of the samples provided. I liked
to be clean and to smell good, and it was safe enough to do so now.
Before, the opposite had made a decent defense. Now, that wasn’t
necessary. I wanted to be taken.

C

An hour after checking into the luxurious
Network train, we were gathered in the dining area, Baker lying on
a couch in the far corner. Angelica was by the door, not eating,
and I understood why. The smells in this car were… tempting.

Both males had showered, and the scent of
freshly washed meat had my nerves tingling. It wasn’t as bad now,
though. I was noticing the subtle differences, but for Angelica,
being around them was torture. I could see the fire; feel her heat
as she waited for this run to be over. She didn’t realize I was
doing it to her intentionally. I could have sent her with my
parents, but she needed this. My success at the Games had convinced
her, but seeing Daniel had made the final choice. She would
probably sign up when we got home and I was determined that she
would survive.

Daniel was looking out the window at the
darkening landscape. The slight breeze coming from the cracked
glass was sending his scent directly toward the door, where it
swirled around Angelica before wafting toward me. Her hands
clenched at a fresh whiff, eyes flickering from pink to red, and I
recognized the moment.

“
Get out.”

She was moving a second later, and I waited
until she was clear before looking at Daniel. “You too.”

He moved for the door next, understanding I
wanted time alone with Baker. His eyes were full of pain, and I
clamped down on my comforting words. He would learn to trust me. If
I’d wanted them both, I would have told him that up front. As it
was, the sight of Baker’s freshly-washed skin held an appeal, but
there was little heat behind it for me. I’d made my real choice a
long time ago.

As Daniel quietly closed the door to our
bedroom - that I could see through the mirror on the back railcar
door we’d left open - Baker sat up. “You’re a real bitch to them,
you know that?”

I ignored the attempt at conversation. When
it came to their safety, I was. She couldn’t be so distracted. It
would get one of us killed.

“
What’s it
like?”

I looked over to see Baker staring at the
muted wall screen with loathing. A new episode of the Bachelor
Battles was just starting.

“
Are they safe?”

My mind flashed back to the sight of the
bachelor cells, of the blood and bruises. “No.”

Baker wanted details, but more than that, he
wanted to ask me to help.

“
Let’s get this straight. I
owe you one for the lies, and I’m paying for it by delivering your
injured ass to Stone Mountain. Anything else will have to wait
until I see who you’ve drafted to replace the Network you’re hoping
I’ll destroy.”

I tried to shut it down, but like him, I
suspected it was already too late for that. Instead of silence at
all the truth, his voice was a low plea I couldn’t ignore.

“
We’re good men, Candy… and
they’re dying so fast!”

My grip tightened on the chair. His tone
said I would find so much desperation that not helping would hurt
me more than facing the Network. “Why were you there, really?”

This time, Baker gave me the truth.

“
You won. You can get us
inside.” His eyes demanded my assistance. “
We
have a right to live,
too.”

The conversation had gotten more emotional
than I had expected from him, and I understood this wasn’t just one
of his many challenges or a bought-and-paid-for service he needed
handled. He cared for them...

My eyes widened, and there was no stopping
the shift to pink. “You’re more than a rebel…”

Realizing he’d given himself away, Baker
leaned back against the seat, but didn’t look away. “I’ve been
leading them for the last year. Since the Network killed my father
for interrupting a live broadcast.”

I placed it an instant later. A tall, blond
fugitive had broken into the Games during a live episode of the
Vulture Run. As his punishment, he was forced to become a
contestant and do it right then. The most brutal of the Network’s
entertainment, the ragged, starving male hadn’t made it ten feet
into the birdcage.

“
Why did he go? He had to
know there wasn’t any coming out.”

Baker’s eyes closed, and his voice, that
tone of confident power I’d depended on, broke me with the anguish.
“My baby brother. We heard rumors he was a prize for that
game.”

My heart filled with fury, those swells
rising up to mock me now. I’d only thought of Daniel for the last
years, and of my own heavy pain, but there were countless others
just like the tortured man across from me. They needed help… and I
knew how, didn’t I?

Immunity, rebels, Network
secrets that I suspected they were about to tell me. This tattered,
jealousy-hiding convict was my way into the new Game if I wanted
it, my free ride to twist the hands of fate and maybe save a whole
world as I played the Network for
all
our lives this time.